Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: receiving, by one or more computing devices of an online system, an indication from a first device of a first user of the online system, that a second device of a second user of the online system is within a proximity distance from the first device; accessing, by one or more computing devices of the online system, social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user, wherein the social-networking information is stored on the online system; determining, by one or more computing devices of the online system, that the second device is a trusted device based on the social-networking information; and sending, by one or more computing devices of the online system, to the first device, instructions to update a lock status of the first device based on the determination that the second device is a trusted device.
An online system enables device locking/unlocking based on proximity and social connections. A first device belonging to a first user detects the presence of a second device belonging to a second user. The system accesses social networking information about both users. If the system determines, based on this social information, that the second device is "trusted" (e.g., the second user is a friend), the system sends instructions to the first device to update its lock status, potentially unlocking the device. The lock status update may automatically unlock the first device when the trusted second device is nearby.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by one or more computing devices of the online system, a level of access to access interfaces of the first device, functionality of the first device, or content accessible from the first device, wherein the determining is based on the social-networking information.
Building upon the proximity-based unlocking system where a first device unlocks based on the proximity of a trusted second device from the previous description, this system further determines a level of access to the first device's interfaces, functionality, or content. This determination is based on the social networking information between the users of the two devices. For example, a closer social connection might grant more access than a distant one. The level of access can range from full unlock to partial feature access.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the instructions to update a lock status of the first device are based on the determined level of access.
In the proximity-based unlocking system that determines a level of access based on social connections as described above, the instructions sent to the first device to update its lock status (i.e., what features unlock) are based on the determined level of access. So, if the social connection suggests only partial trust, the device might unlock some features but not others, or provide limited content access. The level of access dictates the extent of the unlocking.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: receiving, by one or more computer devices of the online system, from the first device, a state of the first device; wherein the determining the level of access is further based on the state of the first device.
Expanding on the system that determines a level of access based on social connections, the first device also sends its current state to the online system. The determination of the access level is based not only on social networking data, but also the state of the first device. This allows for adjustments based on the device's current use and environment.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the state of the first device comprises: a lock status of the first device; a location of the first device; a communications environment of the first device; other devices that are in physical proximity to the first device; whether a screen of the first device is visible; what is being displayed on the screen; a length of time that the first device has been idle; or a length of time since the first device was last used by the first user.
In the system where the device's state is considered for granting access, the "state" of the first device can include several factors: its current lock status, its location, the surrounding communication environment (e.g., Wi-Fi networks), other nearby devices, whether the screen is visible or obscured, the current screen content, the amount of time the device has been idle, or the time since the user last interacted with it. These factors are combined with social information to determine access.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication received from the first device is based on global positioning system information of the second device.
In the proximity-based unlocking system, the indication that the second device is nearby the first device is based on GPS information from the second device. The first device receives or infers location data from the second device's GPS signal to determine proximity and trigger the social-based unlocking process.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication received from the first device is based on a short-range radio frequency signal associated with the second device and detected at the first device.
In the proximity-based unlocking system, the indication that the second device is nearby the first device is based on short-range radio frequency signals (e.g., Bluetooth) emitted by the second device and detected by the first device. The signal strength indicates proximity, triggering the social unlocking process.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication received from the first device is based on a near-field communication associated with the second device and detected at the first device.
In the proximity-based unlocking system, the indication that the second device is nearby the first device is based on near-field communication (NFC) between the two devices. The devices must be in very close physical proximity for NFC to function, providing a high degree of confidence that the devices are near each other, triggering the social unlocking process.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the social-networking information indicates that the second user is authorized to use the first device, and wherein the second device is determined to be a trusted device based on the second user being authorized to use the first device.
In the proximity-based unlocking system, the social networking information explicitly indicates whether the second user is authorized to use the first device. If the social network data indicates authorization (e.g., the second user is listed as a family member with device access rights), the second device is deemed a trusted device, and proximity can trigger unlocking.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the online system comprises a social graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each of the edges between two of the nodes representing a single degree of separation between them, the nodes comprising: a first node corresponding to the first user of the online system; and a plurality of second nodes, one of the second nodes corresponding to the second user of the online system.
The online system uses a social graph, a data structure representing relationships. The graph consists of nodes (representing users) and edges (representing connections). An edge between two nodes indicates a direct relationship. In this system, the graph includes a node for the first user and a node for the second user, with connections indicating their social relationship.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the social-networking information comprises a degree of separation between the first node and the second node corresponding to the second user, and wherein determining that the second device is a trusted device is based on the degree of separation between the first node and the second node corresponding to the second user being less than a threshold degree of separation.
Using the social graph from the previous description, the system determines the "degree of separation" between the first user and the second user (e.g., direct friend, friend of a friend). The system determines if the second device is trusted based on whether the degree of separation is below a threshold (e.g., only direct friends can trigger unlocking).
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the second device is a trusted device is further based on settings of the first device.
In the proximity-based unlocking system, determining that the second device is trusted is based not only on social information but also on the settings of the first device. The first device may have user-configurable settings that specify trusted users, proximity thresholds, or other factors that influence the unlocking behavior.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a lock status of the first device is updated based on the instructions.
After the system determines a lock status update is needed, the first device's lock status is changed based on the instructions received from the online system. The device actually performs the locking or unlocking action.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein updating the lock status of the first device based on the instructions comprises: locking one or more access interfaces of the first device; unlocking one or more access interfaces of the first device; locking one or more functions of the first device; unlocking one or more functions of the first device; blocking access to particular content or all content accessible from the first device; allowing access to particular content or all content accessible from the first device; or logging the event in association with the lock status and a timestamp.
The system updates the first device's lock status by locking or unlocking access interfaces (e.g., password prompt), locking or unlocking device functions (e.g., disabling the camera), blocking or allowing access to content, or by logging the event with a timestamp. The update modifies device security settings.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the online system is a social-networking system.
The "online system" referred to in the proximity-based locking/unlocking method is a social networking system, like Facebook or Twitter. The social connections within the social network are used to determine trust and proximity-based unlocking.
16. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed to: receive an indication from a first device of a first user of an online system, that a second device of a second user of the online system is within a proximity distance from the first device; access social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user, wherein the social-networking information is stored on the online system; determine that the second device is a trusted device based on the social-networking information; and send to the first device, instructions to update a lock status of the first device based on the determination that the second device is a trusted device.
This describes a computer program stored on a non-transitory medium (like a hard drive) that, when run, implements the proximity-based device locking/unlocking system. The program receives a proximity signal from a first device about a second device, accesses social networking data about the users of both devices, determines if the second device is "trusted," and sends instructions to the first device to update its lock status.
17. The media of claim 16 , wherein the software is further operable when executed to determine a level of access to access interfaces of the first device, functionality of the first device, or content accessible from the first device, wherein the determining is based on the social-networking information.
This program, implementing the proximity-based unlocking, as described above, further includes code to determine a level of access to the first device (e.g., full unlock, partial feature access) based on the social networking information between the users of the two devices.
18. The media of claim 17 , wherein the instructions to update a lock status of the first device are based on the determined level of access.
This program, implementing the proximity-based unlocking including determining a level of access, as described above, uses the determined level of access to determine the instructions that are sent to the first device to update its lock status. Lower access levels trigger more restrictive lock status updates.
19. A computing device comprising: one or more computing devices of an online system; and a memory coupled to the one or more computing devices comprising instructions executable by the one or more computing devices, the one or more computing devices operable when executing the instructions to: receive an indication from a first device of a first user of an online system, that a second device of a second user of the online system is within a proximity distance from the first device; access social-networking information associated with the first user and the second user, wherein the social-networking information is stored on the online system; determine that the second device is a trusted device based on the social-networking information; and send to the first device, instructions to update a lock status of the first device based on the determination that the second device is a trusted device.
This describes a computing device (part of a larger online system) that implements the proximity-based device locking/unlocking system. The device contains processors, memory, and software to receive proximity signals, access social networking data, determine trust, and send lock status update instructions to other devices.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further operable when executing the instructions to determine a level of access to access interfaces of the first device, functionality of the first device, or content accessible from the first device, wherein the determining is based on the social-networking information.
This computing device, for proximity-based unlocking, as described above, further includes code to determine a level of access to the first device (e.g., full unlock, partial feature access) based on the social networking information between the users of the two devices.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the instructions to update a lock status of the first device are based on the determined level of access.
This computing device, implementing proximity-based unlocking and determining an access level, as described above, uses the determined level of access to formulate the instructions that are sent to the first device to update its lock status. A higher access level leads to less restrictive lock status updates.
Unknown
October 3, 2017
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